This historical presupposition of Mosaism has external evidence in
its favour, and is inherently quite probable.
*******
2. THE SETTLEMENT IN PALESTINE.
The kingdom of Sihon did not permanently suffice the Israelites,
and the disintegration of the Canaanites to the west of Jordan in
an endless number of kingdoms and cities invited attack. The
first essay was made by Judah in conjunction with Simeon and
Levi, but was far from prosperous. Simeon and Levi were
annihilated; Judah also, though successful in mastering the
mountain land to the west of the Dead Sea, was so only at the cost
of severe losses which were not again made up until the accession
of the Kenite families of the south (Caleb). As a consequence of
the secession of these tribes, a new division of the nation into
Israel and Judah took the place of that which had previously
subsisted between the families of Leah and Rachel; under Israel
were included all the tribes except Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
which three are no longer mentioned in Judges v., where all
the others are carefully and exhaustively enumerated. This
half-abortive first invasion of the west was followed by a second,
which was stronger and attended with much better results.
Pages:
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976